ELECTRIFICATION - Implications For South Wales

[Envoy]

We don't actually know where on the electrified network the 5-car IEPs will be used, but the numbers of 5-car and 9-car ordered are based on a draft timetable DfT has drawn up. This DfT draft timetable shows 31 trains per day (in each direction) between PAD and CDF. About a third of those, including the service into Cardiff from Carmarthen/Swansea at 08:11, are shown as 5-car units. In the westbound direction, three trains in a row from Paddington to Cardiff/Swansea are shown as 5-car twice a day, with another two in a row later in the day. Assuming the same number of services run today, with IC125s with 546 seats, I make it over 1,000 fewer seats per day.

If that is the case, then surely the DfT have got it wrong - just like they did by thinking that 2 coach 158's would do linking the important cities of Cardiff >Bristol>Southampton & Portsmouth as well as the 4 & 5 coach Voyager fiasco. A 5 coach Hitachi running from Carmarthen into Cardiff at peak commuting time (8.11) will also be a huge mistake. We will then end up with a situation like we have today with Cross Country - where fares are raised due to the lack of seats available.

The Swansea services are shown as non-stop Newport to Reading, but the PAD-CDF workings also call at Bristol Parkway, Swindon and Didcot.

Surely, it would be more beneficial for those west of Cardiff if the Swansea trains stopped at Bristol Parkway to thus enable a change to services heading to the Midlands & north-east? In the case of Cardiff > Paddington trains, the stop at Bristol Parkway would not be so important as Cardiff (& Newport) already have direct services to Cheltenham, Birmingham, Derby & Nottingham? If they plan to not have the Swansea > PAD trains stopping at BPW, then the Cardiff > Nottingham trains will need much more capacity.

Should new direct electric services run from Bristol(™) (via Bath) to Oxford > Bedford, then surely, this negates the need to have south Wales trains stopping at Didcot as passengers could change at Swindon?

It seems to me that the DfT have cooked up plans and stock allocations without any consultation with the public. They think they know best but as has happened in the past, they have been widely inaccurate with their assessments. (The same goes for motorways).

 

[D6975]

Perhaps the Bath - Swansea service should exist, but in addition to the current Cardiff services. Then you have 3 trains per hour BTM - CDF. More capacity is also needed on the Cardiff - Portsmouth trains too.

The increase in capacity on the Pompeys would be achieved by running them from Bristol. The reduced number of diagrams required would enable the 3 car hybrid 158s to be reformed as 2 car sets and 2x2 car sets to run instead of 3 cars.
That said, by the time the changes happen, FGW (or whoever) will have 165/166s that may get used on the Pompey route. Hopefully they won't, far too much 2+3 seating.

Incidentally, in case you missed it, the work to make Bathampton loop a reversing siding for trains terminating at Bath was included in a recent NR plans document.

 

[The Ham]

I can't see Bathampton Junction - Southampton being electrified anytime soon to be honest. Bristol - Westbury is made up of too many different services including Weymouths, Great Malverns and Gloucesters. One service per hour using the wires won't be cost effective and removing stations beyond Westbury for the Heart Of Wessex services would be catastrophic for the line IMO.

Between Salisbury & Southampton you have the Salisbury 6 (hourly) services which could also benefit from electrification. In addition it would make a useful diversion/alternative route electric hauled freight.

Assuming Basingstoke to Salisbury is wired up there could also be the Waterloo to Bristol services (currently a few services a day, but could see an increase if there was more rolling stock) which could benefit from the line being electrified.

 

[Envoy]

'The Ham' - that would really be the ideal situation = having the entire south Wales to Portsmouth route electric.

 

[anthony263]

Well didnt the Portsmouth - Cardiff services used to run through to West Wales when operated by Wales & West

 

[Envoy]

Well didnt the Portsmouth - Cardiff services used to run through to West Wales when operated by Wales & West

Yes, some services did run all the way through to west Wales in the 1990's. They even had a service from Manchester to Penzance via the Marches line.